Draft-spring



(No Model.)

B. L. HILDERBRAND, H. ROST 0. L. DAVIS.

DRAFT SPRING.

No. 405.162. Patented June 11, 1889.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD L. HILDERBRAND, HENRY ROST, AND CHARLES L. DAVIS, OF SULLIVAN, INDIANA.

DRAFT-SPRING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 405,162, dated June 11, 1889.

Application filed April 9, 1889. Serial No, 306,586- (No model.) i

To (1 whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, EDWARD L. HILDER- BRAND, HENRY Rosr, and CHARLES L. DAVIS, citizens of the United States, residing at Sullivan, in the county of Sullivan and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Draft-Evener, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to draft-eveners.

The object of the present invention is to enable horses. or other animals to draw loads with greater ease, and to lessen the shocks incidental to travel over rough roads, and to increase the strength and durability of the shafts.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of one of a pair of shafts and a cross-bar provided with a draft-evener constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View of the draft-evener. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, A designates one of a pair of shafts, each of which is designed to be provided with a draft-evener, the base-plate B of which is secured at the junction of the shaft A and the cross-bar O by bolts or the like, which construction strengthens the shafts A at this point and aids in securin g the parts together.

The base-plate B is T-shaped, and has preferably formed integral with it a sleeve D, which is provided at its front end with a rectangular opening d, which is adapted for the reception of a draft-bar E, that is square in cross-section, whereby the draft-bar E is prevented turning, and a trace-hook e at the front end of said bar is held in the same relative position, which is at right angles to the shaft.

Instead of having a rectangular opening any other f olllLWllSh the exception of a circular one, may be employed andwill accomplish the same result as a square one. The tracehook is preferably constructed integral with an arm extending at right angles to the drawbar, thereby enabling the traces to be hooked in the ordinary manner, which is a great advantage; and to prevent the trace-hook being drawn too far inward the draft-bar is provided with an annular flange 6 which is located a little in the rear of the trace-hook and abuts against the front end of the sleeve D.

The rear end 6' of the draft-barE is screwthreaded and is provided with a washer F and nut G, the former of which bears against a spring H, that is incased in the sleeve D. The spiral spring H is interposed between the front of the sleeve D and the rear end of the draft-bar E, to which the trace is connected, and forms a cushion which prevents all shocks to the horse or jars to the vehicle incident to sudden jerks of the former, occasioned by travel over rough roads and the like.

From the foregoing it will readily be seen that draft-eveners constructed in accordance with this invention are simple and inexpensive, and greatly add to the strength and durability of the adjacent parts, and enable the cross-bar to be entirely free from anything that is liable to catch and tear or disfigure a horses tail.

What we claim is- 1. The combination, in a draft-evener, of the sleeve designed to be secured to a shaft and provided at its front end with a rectangular opening, a draft bar rectangular in cross-section, terminating at its front end in a trace-hook which is bent laterally at an angle to the shank, and a spring interposed between the front of the sleeve and the rear end of the shaft, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A draft evener comprising the baseplate, the sleeve secured thereto and provided at its front end with a rectangular opening, the draft-bar rectangular in cross our own we have hereto affixed our signatures 10 section, and having a trace-hook e at its front in presence of two Witnesses.

end and extendin out at rip'ht an les to said 7 3 bar, and provided back of said trace-hook Egggggggfi 5 with an annular flange, and a spring inter- CHAS L D AVIS posed between the rear end of the draft-bar v and the front of the sleeve, substantially as \Vitnesses: described. NICK DAVIS,

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as \VALTER S. MAPLE. 

